[UPDATE 7:18 p.m. 101 Open] Fire Closes Hwy 101 North of Laytonville

According to the California Highway Patrol Incident page, a fire is burning north of Laytonville and south of Camp WinnaRainbow. Emergency personnel closed Hwy 101 at 2:21 p.m. as flames spread to both sides of the road.

As of 2:29 p.m.It is burning about 10 to 20 acres, according to the Incident Commander.

The Laytonville Fire Department and CalFire ground, air & inmate assets are responding to a vegetation fire off US-101. A first responder arriving at the scene reported a “half-acre moderate rate of spread into the timber…” It is being referred to as the @Rough Incident.” …. At 2:19 pm, a first responder said, “it’s about an acre now with spotting ahead of the fire. Keep the resources coming.”

UPDATE 2:53 p.m.: According to the scanner, the Incident Commander is looking for help to provide structure defence to three homes in the area.

UPDATE 3 p.m.: The fire is within 100 feet of the three homes, according to the CHP Incident page.

Rough Fire [Photo by David Jeffreys]

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: A reader sends us these two photos showing the column of smoke rising and…a burned leaf that traveled two miles towards him.

Burned leaf from the Ruff Fire. It traveled two miles according to the reader who sent us this photo

Smoke from the Ruff Fire. [Photo from a fire north of Laytonville]

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Local resident Leslie Gravier sends this photo showing aircraft dropping pink retardant on the fire. MVUFirePhotographer, a senior member at WildlandFire.com which is an excellent source of information frequented by firefighters, reports, “…fire is 40-45 acres with potential for 100.”

Traffic backed up as aircraft drops retardant on the fire. [Photo by Leslie Gravier]

UPDATE 4:12 p.m.: A windshift shows the fire heading east from Hwy 101, according to the reader who sent this photo.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: According to readers, the road opened. This isn’t official yet. But we have heard that some aircraft is being pulled from the fire.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: All lanes of 101 now open, according the California Highway Patrol Incident page.

Firefighters now heading out Huntsman Lane. Looks like the fire is spreading to the east. A gusty breeze coming in from the ocean. Sheriff and fire vehicles leaving the fire site along the corridor & heading east. 3 trucks with convict line crews just arriving. Smoke is suddenly getting dark at the center of the column, which is easy of the road and stretching east with the breeze. Another truck, an 18 wheeler hauling a big bulldozer. 2 big planes. This fire is being fought on 3 fronts: the 101 corridor with line crews, Huntsman to the east with water tankers; from the air with 2 bombers & a spotter. We’re about an 8th of a mile north of the Huntsman intersection, been here 40 minutes, and the traffic stretches out of sight back toward and probably into Laytonville. Slurry bombers ripping the air and sirens screaming up the roads.

The fire isn’t that far east to use any of those, they’d surely be using Woodman Canyon’s access, County Road 307 is technically accurate, and it dead ends at 101 behind a guardrail, which is where it appeared to have started in my opinion.

Hey guys some comments are( in my opinion) getting off point in many of kyms news reports. Just a suggestion for future posts of local and current situations, if your not posting things to aid or help educate those parties involved just keep it to yourself. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem thx

Yo ex stripper, you might be a better person if you were stoned out if your mind.
Might give you some self awareness and respect and you wouldn’t make a disgraceful, prickish and absolutly useless comment during a time of community crisis. Hope your far away from laytonville, we dont need haters here, especially teachers who think like this. Peaceout.

It’s true. They did call it that. Do we need to erase history? He is not being derogatory or slandering a race. He’s just stating that the local ranchers used to use a derogatory name. When I was a kid we used to call a certain kind of nut “nigger toes.” It was appalling. If I did refer to them as nigger toes now, I would hope someone would call me on it. HOWEVER, merely stating that something used to have a derogatory name is not in itself an offense.

It is an ugly word. You are right there. However, I am not endorsing calling someone “nigger.” I am saying it is a word that was used at one time to describe a certain type of bush.

For Harry Potter fans: Refusing to say Voldemort’s name simply gives him more power. It’s the same with refusing to simply state that something used to be done and now we don’t do it because we know better. Don’t give evil power by refusing to name it.

It’s not just “Kym” any more. It’s “Citizen of the year Kym”. Who also won the state of California’s highest civilian honor. Mostly for her concern for the community she lives in, and especially times like this where people might lose everything. She watches out for us, and it is much appreciated.

I understand that but isn’t “Citizen of the Year” typically designated for volunteers that have selfishly given time for the betterment of a community?
Maybe Humboldt is different than Mendicino but that’s how the award is structured here.

When I was a child growing up in Laytonville that area was known as “Warren’s Flat” it was named after Warren Woodruff who owned it. I’m assuming that the name “Ruff Fire” must be some construation of his last name.

Reverse 911 calls, if you have a landline, if you have cellular I think you can register to be called. Best bet would be to check the Cal Fire incident page and click on more info. You may even want to call Cal Fire or the sheriffs department.

The view of the fire, the smoke and air traffic, is looking promising 🙂 Hopefully there will be no evacuations necessary! Thank you to all the wonderful personnel who responded to this “Ruff” fire!!!

It appears that the fire is contained or nearly so at 40-100 acres. Tomorrow they will assess. Crews will stay on hot spots all night but they are letting folks back into the back country. My sis and her husband are on their way home. Heavy equipment guys were on the fire before most of the first responders got there. Thank all for the efforts. Could have been much worse.

Giving thanks courageous and angelic dedicated 🔥 crews have succeeded in putting out most of the fire thus helping fellow Laytonville-ians sleep 💤 little better tonight. Condolences to the family whom lost their property in the fire. Let us know if we can be of any help. & Rest in Peace Kenny Fisher! Justice now! Pray no others fall victims to c. W. Reynolds wrath of fury!

Ernie? Dark smoke in the middle of the column? Isnt that actually a sign of rate of change in combustion? When the structure is burning under the center of the column and it riiiiy gets ripping does the plume color change or does it tend to stay dark for lack of oxygen until the fuel is consumed? or is this a valid question?I guess there could be so many variables .hmmmmmm. Im a curious whannabe fire fighter.